2023 - 2024
Annual Report
A LETTER FROM THE
Head of School
Dear Families,
While I am still in my first few months here at St. James’, I can already feel the abundance of generosity and warmth from our school community.”
While I am still in my first few months here at St. James’, I can already feel the abundance of generosity and warmth from our school community. Witnessing the incredible turnout and spirit at the Back to School Picnic and the Bingo PartyBook was further proof of the extraordinary engagement and support of this special group of families.
In what I understand was a difficult landscape for philanthropy within Los Angeles last year with the writers strike and the impact that had on many other industries, St. James’ families showed up and made the School a philanthropic priority. The Every Child Fund brought in over $1,000,000, PartyBook raised $44,755 and the Spring Gala netted just over $400,000 - a record amount for our school. I want to extend my sincere thanks to the parent volunteers who led these efforts: Jennifer Lin, Susannah Laracy, Soo Ji Park, Nan Joseph, and Michelle Cheng for co-chairing the Every Child Fund, plus all the Grade Ambassadors for helping us reach 100% family participation; Beth Sanford and Daisy Lee for co-chairing PartyBook; and the tremendous Gala Committee who were led by Meagan Olsen, Yolanda Felton, Sylvia Rivera, Charles Kim, and JJ Walsh, who produced a fabulous 55th anniversary evening.
The St. James’ Parent Association not only hosted many wonderful Cultural Celebrations, Family Camp Weekend, and other events too many to name, but also brought in significant fundraising through Pizza Fridays which contributed to the record
Gala total. Special thanks to the Parent Association Executive Committee led by Diana Ra-Lee, Ryan Likes, Ashley Kim, and Tanya Yoon.
The Every Child Fund makes up around 12% of the School’s budget and is an essential part of the School’s operating costs, so I want to thank every single family for their contributions and 100% support of St. James’ in the 2023-24 school year.
As we look to the future, I hope to inspire a continued level of engagement and philanthropy, and I will be actively participating in all of the ways that the school community comes together to provide our students with a joyful and challenging learning environment that cements the foundation of their lives filled with opportunity and meaning.
On behalf of all of the St. James’ staff, thank you for your continued investment in our School and I look forward to partnering with you for many years of innovation and growth.
Diane Rich Head of School
A LETTER FROM THE
Board President
Dear Families, Staff, Students, Alumni, and Supporters of St. James’,
...the primary role of St. James’ is to provide our students the tools and guidance they need to answer the call of leadership and excellence.”
As I reflect upon my tenure, it has crystallized for me that the primary role of St. James’ is to provide our students the tools and guidance they need to answer the call of leadership and excellence.
We believe the path to finding a purpose through education is best fostered with a strong and early start. St. James’ is able to deliver on this foundational vision mainly because of the contribution of the resources by its community members.
St. James’ has benefitted from another year of record-breaking fundraising having raised $1,019,375 with 100% participation from our families and Board. What a vote of confidence that the school is a great steward of our country’s future leaders. This allows us to recruit and retain our excellent teachers and provide generous tuition assistance. The fantastic production of Matilda at the Ebell Wilshire Theatre and our championship golf team are also shining examples of what St. James’ can deliver, which is simply the best enrichment programs in the city.
I also have the pleasure to welcome our new Head of School, Diane Rich. The Board and all stakeholders of the St. James’ community had a remarkably busy year making this decision to make sure the best possible choice was made. Diane brings so many wonderful assets which we expect to shine through: deep experience in education
and administration, being a passionate Episcopalian, and a leader that welcomes collaboration to shepherd the institution into a rapidly changing world.
At this juncture, my role as Board Chair has ended and I couldn’t be more thrilled to announce the successor as Kevin MacLellan. Kevin is a recognized global leader in the entertainment industry, but most importantly is a father of two wonderful boys at St. James’ and loves the school as much as I do. Kevin and I had the pleasure of working very closely as Co-Chairs of the search committee, and we often joked that we spoke to each other more than our spouses! I expect he and Diane will lead the school to new heights.
To the entire Board, I am grateful and couldn’t ask for a better group in terms of passion, skillset, and heart for the community. To the community, I am eternally grateful for the impact you have on the lives of our students. We are very lucky to have each other and I look forward to another exceptional year.
Sincerely,
Caroline T. Choe ‘92 Board President
& EXPENSES
The Every Child Fund
Thank you to all who contributed and supported our community during this remarkable campaign!
The funds raised through the Every Child Fund are an integral part of the school’s operating budget which supports every aspect of school life. This year, the campaign raised $1,019,375 with 100% participation during our 55-day campaign, which honored the school’s 55th anniversary. Achieving both goals of $1,000,000 and 100% participation from our community is an incredible milestone that underscores our collective commitment. Our ECF ambassadors - led by co-chairs Michelle Cheng, Nan Joseph, Susannah Laracy, Jennifer Lin, and Soo Ji Park - were instrumental in achieving this goal. We are especially proud to celebrate the P2 Dolphins class and our 6th graders, who were the first to reach 100% participation this year, earning an ice cream party as a reward!
The funds raised through the ECF have enabled us to increase the socioeconomic diversity at St. James’, invest in our teachers, and undertake significant improvements across our campuses. This investment not only enhances the physical environment but also supports our commitment to academic excellence and the overall well-being of our students. As we continue to grow and evolve, the Every Child Fund remains crucial to fulfilling our mission and ensuring that every child at St. James’ thrives. Thank you to all who contributed and supported our community during this remarkable campaign!
CO-CHAIRS:
Michelle Cheng
Nan Joseph
Susannah Laracy
Jennifer Lin
Soo Ji Park
GIVING LEVELS:
Angel Wings
Head’s Circle
Philanthropic Council
Seashell Society
1968 Association
D’Amico Society
Club Husky
AMBASSADORS
Andrea Salazar-Kone
August Martin
Augustine Chung ‘93
Brooke Benjamin ’91
Caroline Pho
Casee Kelly
Cat Baker
Clara Lim
Daisy Lee ‘88
Daniel Chun
Dennis Dennehy
Diana Ra-Lee
Elaine Kim
Elizabeth YoungMin Chang
Emilie Matchett
ANGEL WINGS
Maria Ferrari and John Tumlin
Vicky and George Joseph
HEAD’S CIRCLE
Anonymous
EJ and Tae Hyun Shin
Erica Hanson and Ike Barinholtz
Jeet Sohal and Eric Andersen
Jenny Yoon and Kyehan Kim
Kevin MacLellan and Brian Curran
Liz Raposo and Scott Thomas
Emily Hare
Gigi Lam
Hilary Marx
Ja-Hong Kim
Jake Itzkowitz
Jamie Son
Janet Kung
Jennifer Culp
Jennifer LaDuke
Jina Park
Joanna Philbin
John Kennedy
John Roman
Juliet Kwon
Katie Chang ‘93
Lang Fisher
Malin Wong
Margaret Lee ’91
Matt Murray
Meagan Olsen
Michelle Cheng
Miya Sumii
Nan Joseph Nekesha Kyle
Nick Leeds
Perrine Mann
Raushda Kennedy
Rosa Na
Rosalind Lawton
Sarah Hwang ‘98
PHILANTHROPIC COUNCIL
Ambrosia and Dennis Dennehy
Amelia Stephenson and Daniel Chun
Anonymous
Caroline Choe ‘92 and Jin S. Chun
Clara and Glen Lim
Diana Ra-Lee and Brian Lee
Elizabeth Yarborough and Peter Hagist
Emily Levin and Shawn Hare
Irene and Peter Chung
Janet Shim and Taos Huskey
Jennifer Lin and Allan Edmiston
Julia and Peter Bae
Kate and Max Osterweis
Katie and Alphonse Provinziano
Katie and Jake Ahn
$50,000+
$25,000 - $49,999 $10,000 - $24,999
$5,000 - $9,999
$1,968 - $4,999
$750 - $1,967 $1 - $749
Susannah Laracy
Sylvia Rivera
Tim Fletcher
Umi Kawabata
Yemen Fowler
Yolanda Felton
Yumie Lee
Katie and Matt Murray
Kelly and Scott Yang
Lang Fisher
Lily Hsu and Konrad Schlick
Luna Kim and Sam Ulin
Margaret Lee ‘91 and David Bommarito
Nina and Kent Bailey
Rosalind Lawton and Thom Zadra
Shio Kusaka and Jonas Wood
Soo Ji and Jong Park
Stacie Yee and Gabriel Colwell
Sumana and Adam Wolf
Tricia and Richard Hoffman
Yasmine and Matt Johnson
Sera Moon
Soo Ji Park
Steph Cha
Stephanie Adams Sumana Wolf
SEASHELL SOCIETY
Aeysha Carr and Curtis Spears
Allison Yoo and Henry Jung
Anne and Phillip Gharabegian
Anonymous
Ashley and Roy Kim
Bel and Alan Joseph ‘96
Cathleen and Eric Stern
Cece Yang and Bryan Lee
Christine Yeo and Steve Choi
Diana Suh and Josh McCloskey
Elisabeth Yin Yu and Victor Meng
Emily and David Lynch
Esther Chang and Matthew Hanna
Georgia and Lou Howe
Ivana Cingel and Ryan Likes
Ja-Hong Kim and Marc Levy
Jennie Chang and Wayne Tu
Jennifer and Joe Hsu
Jennifer and John Lee
John Roman
Judy Oh and Michael Moon
Kyong Kang and Dongjin Lee
Maureen Hawley ‘96 and Tony Morales
Michelle Lawrence and Andy Ross
Nan and Victor Joseph Netflix, Inc.
Nina Lightdale-Miric and Alexander Miric
Sandra Lee
Sara Lee and Charles Kim
Sarah and Jack O’Brien
Sora Lee and Jay Um
Stephanie Cha and Matt Barbabella
Susannah and Noah Laracy
Tanya and Arthur Yoon
THE 1968 ASSOCIATION
Anonymous
Anonymous
August Martin and Ryan Mahlum
Bellinda Alvarez and Martin Scott
Brooke Benjamin ‘91 and Joshua Benjamin
Casey and Sean Morris
Cristina and Hanley Baxter
Daisy Lee ‘88 and Zachariah Kahn
Dr. Chong Won
Erin Walsh and Christian Högstedt
Eva Qiu and Alwin La Pietra
Hilary Marx and Nicholas Leeds
Hyunsook Huh and John Park
Jamie Quinn and Jake Itzkowitz
Jamie Son and Jeong-Ho Roh
Jennifer Hye and David Kim
Jessica and Ji Lim
Ji Lee and Meehee Beck
Jihae and Jeong Gu Lee
Jina and David Park
Joanna and Jesse Jacobs
Julia Enescu and Jeff Balis
Karen Hur ‘86 and George Hur
Kayla and Sean Lee
Ken Robbins
Laura Skoczylas and Tony Newman
Leehwa and Craig Nakamatsu
Maisie and Richard Radford
Malin Wong and James Kissane
Marcie Ulin and Matt Lau
Marge and Walter Manzke
Matthew McAlpin and Robert Goff
Melissa Loy and Mike Margolin
Michelle and David Cheng
MJ Lee and Stephan Kim
Nina Freudenberger and Michael Larocca
Rachel and Justin Klaeb
Robert Ahn
Rosa Na and Jimmy Hwang
Sabina Yoo and Daniel Moon
Sally Pressman and David Rogers
Sarah and Peter Ha
Sarah Suh and James Kim
Sera and Ray Hahn
Stella and Gary Taglyan
Stephanie and Kaleo Adams
Sun and Roger Kim
Sunkyoung Kim and John Han
Susan and Brian Gillespie
Sylvia Rivera and Eric Schaar
Syrinthia and Stefan Studer
The Walt Disney Company
Umi Kawabata and Benjamin Baudhuin
William and Scout Kemper
D’AMICO SOCIETY
Adrienne White and Albert Won
American Honda Motor Co., Inc.
Anonymous
Anonymous
Ashley and Tim Fletcher
Bindhu Varghese and Jonathan Sheldon
Binna Yu and Sungdeuk Son
Carmella and Raj Singh
Chantal and Jarrett Dube
Claire and Sung Han
Crystal Boateng and Christian Kouma
Daniela Kim and Jeffrey Kim
Diana Won and Sean Stephanson
Elaine Kim and Aram Lee
Elizabeth and Kenneth Kim
Elizabeth Fain-LaBombard ‘92 and John
LaBombard
Emily Berger and Franklin Hess
Eunice Kim and Daniel Chang
Eunju Kim and Ju Hyun Lee
Gia Paladino-Wise and Michael Wise
Gigi Chen and Sherman Huo
Gigi Lam and Mike Selsky
Hye Won and Benjamin Lee
Hyunhee Kang and Donald Lee
Isis and William Rivera
Janet and Fan-Wei Kung
Jennifer and David Feeney
Jennifer Culp and John Hoffman
Jenny O’Brian and Ryan Koh
Ji Eun Choi and Tae Hwan Kim
Ji Yeong Park and Hyun Jong Kim
Joanna Philbin
Juliet and Eric Kwon
Juyoung and Jinwook Park
Kara and Chris Smith
Kate and Eugene Hong
Katherine and Alex Pittman
Lauren LeFranc and Ryan Scott
Lesley Blume and Gregory Macek
CLUB HUSKY
Adreon and Travis Fenderson
Alexa Laffen and Paul Felten
Alice Kuramoto
Amanda and Nathan VanHook
Amanda Reno and Mazik Saevitz
Amgen, Inc.
Ana Araya
Andrea Salazar-Kone and Moussa Kone
Andrew Wright
Angela Zotea
Annelyne Coronado and Victor Oseguera
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Lisa Christensen and Ken Peltan
Lisa Yang
Marisa Miller and Jonathan Berzer
Meagan Olsen
Michelle Bussarakum and Bryan Searing
Raushda and John Kennedy Riot Games, Inc.
Sera Moon and SangDo Park
Sheldon Berger
Shin and Sunju Kim
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sooyoung Kim and Kunhee Park
Sue and Stephen Ma
Sunmi Son and Ryan Ahn
Teresa Leung and Isaac Lee
Tom Davidson and Robert Levine
Yolanda Felton
Yong Ho and Jin Kim
Yumie Song and James Lee ‘86
Yuna Cho and Eunshik Shin
Cat Baker Chenelle Geoffroy-Lindsey
Chris Marcil
Chris Zapata
Christina Kim and Apurba Pathak
Clara and Bret Martin
Crystal and Austin Clements
David Forrest and Robert Rave
Davlyn and Kyle Mosley
Denise Gocke
Doug Jones
Edward Hermeno
Effie and Lance Williams
Effie Turnbull Sanders and Edward Sanders
Eileen and Lewis Fein
Elizabeth Desmarais
Elizabeth YoungMin and Sonny Chang
Emerald Berg and Christopher Bou Saeed
Emily Cloke and Anthony Kluth
Erica and David Slade
Eunkyoung Park and Hojae Lee
Eura Lim
Frances and Kyle Armantrout
Hannah Elins and Leo Hertz
Hannah Lyu and Sun Hoo Kim
Heivi Kim and Edgar Cho
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Anonymous
Arnold Blanshard
Ashley Samuels
Ashling Loh-Doyle and Andrew Nunnelly
Benjamin van der Veen
Beth and Jonathan Sanford
Brandon Felton
Brandy and Gary Anderson
Brian Duggan
Capital Group Companies
Caroline Pho and Ted Chung
Casee Kelly and Adam Benson
Kate Buhrmaster
Kate Cress
Katie and Eric Sithideth
Katie Lowry Chang ‘93 and Will Chang
Kejia Pan
Kelli Chau
Kelly and Alex Montalvo
Kroger
Kundi Li and Anthony Wang
Kyeong and Duk Kyoung
Laporchea Street
Laura and Michael Longo
Laura and Michael Riley
Leslie D. Emge
Leslie Madill and Joni Lefkowitz
Lisa Cargill
Loranda Paul
Lupe Isas and Wayani Taylor
Marika and Antonello Dato
Meg Fain ‘96 and Evan Jenkins
Mehmet Pekerol
Mei-Ling Leonard
Minsuk Oh and Hoon Kim
Miya Sumii and Yemen Fowler
Nadine Medley-Jackson and Rickman Jackson
Nkechi ‘87 and David Howell
Hyo Yeon and Steve Lau
Hyun Ok Cha and Jae Sa
In Hee Na and Jin-Ho Phark
Irish Giron
Jeahee Pyo and Robert Chu
Jean Lee and Toan Tran
Jennifer Chou and Joe Webb
Jennifer Sarayba and Raf Sosnowski
Jennifer Sohal and Oleg Sultseng
Jennifer Ufford
Jessica and Gonzalo Andrade
Jessica and James Chu
Jessica Schibler and Prague Robert
Jonathan Dar
Joyce Park and Jason Macaya
Joyce Shin and Benjamin Turner
Jules and Crispin Leyser
Julie Amaya
Kali Conner
Kasey McGarrigle and Christian Santaniello
Patricia Joseph
Paul Serrano
Perrine and Edward Mann
Richard Yi
S. Monica Soni and Chris Cowan
Sangeun Kim
Sarah Godoy
Sarah Hwang ‘98 and Christopher Su
Sean Smith
Siri Garber and Thomas Chorley
Sue and Tao Leung
Suzanne and Charles Rowins
Tara Russell and Scott Ashby
Theppong Sae-Low
Thomas Parker and Kevin Blickfeldt
Tiffany Joseph ‘92 and Christopher Schreib
Tracy Bennett
Valerie Sullivan
Vanessa Mesia and Alexander Ullrich
Spring Gala
Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Emerald Masquerade Ball raised an impressive $400,773, setting a new school record.
On May 4th, 2024, St. James’ hosted the enchanting Emerald Masquerade Ball in honor of the school’s 55th anniversary. The gala committee - who were led by Meagan Olsen, Yolanda Felton, Sylvia Rivera, Charles Kim, and JJ Walsh - helped transform the school’s field into an enchanting garden, complete with over 500 feet of mylar, 400 trees, 300 hand-made masks by our students, and inflatable baubles over 10 feet tall. Special thanks to David Rogers and Kara Leigh Powers for building the giant masquerade mask that welcomed guests as they arrived at the event. The St. James’ community leaned into the Emerald Masquerade Ball with gusto - everywhere you looked was emerald green with gowns, tailored suits, and masquerade masks galore.
Our gala committee also outdid themselves and secured a record-number of silent and live auction items! The gala featured an exciting live auction with coveted items, including passes to the Magic Castle and luxurious getaways to the Four Seasons in Maui and Orlando. A highlight of the evening was the spirited game, “Last Paddle Up,” where the last donor to raise their paddle won a highly sought-after front-of-carpool parking spot, adding an element of fun and competition to the festivities.
The Board of Trustees honored retiring Head of School, Peter Reinke. Ike Barinholtz and Sally Pressman returned as our MC’s, while the live auction was hosted by live auctioneer, Zan!
Thanks to the generosity of our community, the Emerald Masquerade Ball raised an impressive $400,773, setting a new school record. The funds will support vital programs such as our Beyond School initiative, tuition assistance endowment, and other essential school needs. This successful event not only brought our community together in celebration but also reinforced our commitment to ensuring a vibrant educational experience for all students at St. James’. As we reflect on this memorable night, we extend heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated and contributed, making it a truly unforgettable celebration of our school’s rich history and bright future.
Enormous
Thanks to our Gala
Sponsors:
Aeysha Carr and Curtis Spears
Brian Curran and Kevin MacLellan
Caroline Choe ‘92 and Jin S. Chun
EJ and Tae Hyun Shin
Erica Hanson and Ike Barinholtz
Esther Chang and Matt Hanna
Hyung G. and Ki Kim
Jeet Sohal and Eric Andersen
Jennifer Lin and Allan Edmiston
Jenny Oh and Andy Kim
Jessica and Oliver Walsh
John Roman
Katie and Alphonse Provinziano
Katie and Jake Ahn
Margaret Lee and David Bommarito
Maureen Hawley ‘96 and Tony Morales
Monica Soni and Chris Cowan
Nan and Victor Joseph
Nina and Kent Bailey
Nina Feudenberger and Michael Larocca
Parent Association
Sara Lee and Charles Kim
Sarah and Jack O’Brien
Shio Kusaka and Jonas Wood
Soo Ji and Jong Park
Sumana and Adam Wolf
Susannah and Noah Laracy
Tricia and Richard Hoffman
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Aeysha Carr
Ashley Kim
Cat Baker
Charles Kim
EJ Shin
Judy Oh
Malin Wong
Maureen Hawley ‘96
Meagan Olsen
Melissa Loy Nkechi Howell ‘87
Sarah O’Brien
Sylvia Rivera
Yolanda Felton
PARTYBOOKS AND HOSTS
Party Book
• Bingo on the Field: Meagan Olsen, Jae Chung, Ambrosia Dennehy, Matthew McAlpin, and Loranda Paul
• Fall Carnival: Bel and Alan Joseph, Nan and Victor Joseph, Tiffany Joseph and Chris Schreib, and Jennifer and Tom LaDuke
• Holiday Wreath Making: EJ Shin, Julia Bae, and Ji Young Park
• Santa Photo and Fun: Kayla Lee, Jessica Lim, Luna Kim, and Jamie Son
• Soul 2 Seoul: Soo Ji and Jong Park. Special thanks to our chefs and mixologists: Kaleo Adams, Brooke and Joshua Benjamin, Adam Benson and Casee Kelly, Yemen Fowler and Miya Sumii, George Hur, James Kim, and Mike Margolin and Melissa Loy
• Valentine’s Cookie Decorating: Luna Kim and Allison Yoo
• Baking with Marge Manzke at République: Marge and Walter Manzke
• Drag Queen Game Night: Kevin MacLellan and Brian Curran
PartyBooks continue to thrive at St. James’, showcasing the creativity and enthusiasm of our families while raising an impressive $44,755 this year! From the spirited Bingo on the Field and the festive Fall Carnival, to the delightful Holiday Wreath Making and Santa Photo events, there was truly something for everyone to enjoy. Highlights also included the Soul2Seoul BBQ cook-off, the fun-filled Valentine’s Cookie Decorating, and the lively Drag Queen Game Night, proving that St. James’ families know how to throw unforgettable parties. Enormous thanks to all our generous hosts and our PartyBook co-chairs, Beth Sanford and Daisy Lee ‘88, for their dedication and vision in elevating this beloved fundraising initiative.
Board of Trustees
Advancement Committee
Adam
Effie
Esther
Jennifer
The
Ken Robbins
Kevin MacLellan
Peter Reinke, Head of School
Sandra Lee
Sarah O’Brien
Beth Sanford
Brian Curran
Caroline Choe ‘92
Daisy Lee
EJ Shin
Jennifer Lin
Jina Park
Judy Oh
Soo Ji Park
Susannah Laracy
Tanya Yoon
Yolanda Felton
Your support in our fundraising programs sustain an extraordinary culture of philanthropy and ensure a first-rate education for our students.
Senior Administration
Ways of Giving
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